The estimated resident population of Tasmania at 30 June 2004 was 482,128 persons - an increase of 4,823 (1.01%) since June 2003. This means that 2003-04 was the fourth consecutive year of growth for the state, and had the highest annual growth rate since 1989.

The median age of the estimated resident population of Tasmania at 30 June 2004 was 38.4 years. This is 2.0 years higher than the Australian median age, which increased by 0.2 years during 2003-04, and 0.3 years higher than the Tasmanian median age at 30 June 2003. At 30 June 2004 the median age of Tasmanian males was 37.5 years, while the median age of Tasmanian females was 39.2 years.

The highest median age among the Tasmanian statistical divisions was in Southern (40.2 years), followed by Mersey-Lyell (38.8 years), Northern (38.2 years) and Greater Hobart (37.9 years).

Local government areas with the highest median ages were Glamorgan/Spring Bay (46.5 years), Tasman (45.5 years) and Break O'Day (45.3 years). Local government areas with the lowest median ages were Brighton (31.2 years), West Coast (35.4 years) and Circular Head (36.2 years), although the median ages in all Tasmanian local government areas rose during 2003-04.

AGE STRUCTURE

Population aged 0-14 years

The population aged 0-14 years was estimated to be 97,102 persons, or 20.1% of the population of Tasmania at 30 June 2004. There were 252 more children aged 0-14 years at 30 June 2003. A decade ago there were 9,954 more children aged 0-14 years in Tasmania (at 30 June 1994) and at that time they comprised 22.6% of the total population. At 30 June 2004, there were 105.7 males for every 100 females in this age range.

The statistical division with the highest proportion of its population in the 0-14 age group was Southern (21.3%), followed by Mersey-Lyell (20.7%), Northern (20.3%) and Greater Hobart (19.5%).

The local government areas with the highest proportion of children aged 0-14 years were Brighton (27.6%), West Coast (23.4%) and Southern Midlands (23.2%). The local government areas with the lowest proportion of children aged 0-14 years were Hobart (15.3%), King Island (17.0%) and Glamorgan/Spring Bay (17.2%).

Population aged 15-64 years

The population aged 15-64 years was estimated to be 316,240 persons, or 65.6% of the population of Tasmania at 30 June 2004. There were 3,686 fewer persons aged 15-64 years at 30 June 2003. A decade ago there were 9,034 fewer persons aged 15-64 years in Tasmania (at 30 June 1994), and at that time they comprised 65.0% of the total population. At 30 June 2004, there were 98.9 males for every 100 females in this age range.

The statistical division of Greater Hobart had the highest proportion of its population in the 15-64 age group (66.4%), followed by Northern (65.2%), Southern (65.1%) and Mersey-Lyell (64.6%).

The local government areas with the highest proportion of persons aged 15-64 years were Hobart (71.0%), King Island (68.1%) and West Coast (66.6%). The local government areas with the lowest proportion of persons aged 15-64 were Dorset (62.1%), Glamorgan/Spring Bay (62.7%) and Break O'Day (63.3%).

Population aged 65 years and over

The population aged 65 years and over was estimated to be 68,786 persons, or 14.3% of the population of Tasmania at 30 June 2004. There were 1,389 fewer persons aged 65 years and over at 30 June 2003. A decade ago there were 10,109 fewer persons aged 65 years and over in Tasmania (at 30 June 1994), and at that time they comprised 12.4% of the total population. At 30 June 2004, there were 81.0 males for every 100 females in this age range.

The statistical division with the highest proportion of its population in the 65 years and over age group was Mersey-Lyell (14.7%) followed by Northern (14.4%), Greater Hobart (14.1%) and Southern (13.5%).

The local government areas with the highest proportion of persons aged 65 years or more were Glamorgan/Spring Bay (20.1%), Tasman (18.2%) and Break O'Day (17.4%). The local government areas with the lowest proportion of persons aged 65 years or more were Brighton (6.8%), West Coast (10.1%) and Kentish (11.5%).

Population aged 85 years and over

The population aged 85 years and over was estimated to be 7,757 persons, or 1.6% of the population of Tasmania at 30 June 2004. There were 195 fewer persons aged 85 years and over at 30 June 2003. A decade ago there were 2,880 fewer persons aged 85 years or more in Tasmania (at 30 June 1994), and at that time they comprised 1.0% of the total population. At 30 June 2004, there were 44.0 males for every 100 females in this age range.

The statistical division with the highest proportion of their population in the 85 years and over age group was Greater Hobart (1.7%), followed by Northern (1.6%), Mersey-Lyell (1.6%) and Southern (1.3%).

The local government areas with the highest proportion of persons aged 85 or more were Flinders (3.1%), Glamorgan/Spring Bay (2.5%), Hobart (2.0%), Central Coast (2.0%) and Launceston (2.0%). The local government areas with the lowest proportion of persons aged 85 or more were Brighton (0.7%), Kentish (0.7%), George Town (0.7%) and West Coast (0.7%).

SEX RATIO

At 30 June 2004 there were 6,292 more females than males in Tasmania, or 97.4 males for every 100 females. This compares to 98.8 males for every 100 females in the total Australian population. In 1994 there were 97.8 males for every 100 females in Tasmania.

The Southern Statistical Division was the only statistical division in Tasmania at 30 June 2004 to have more males than females (107.0 males for every 100 females). Mersey-Lyell had 98.2 males for every 100 females, Nothern had 97.4, and Greater Hobart had 95.5.

The local government areas with the highest number of males per 100 females were Flinders (117.6), Central Highlands (117.1) and King Island (116.7).The local government areas with the lowest number of males per 100 females were Devonport (92.9), Launceston (94.1) and Glenorchy (94.2).

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